Apparently afraid that an announcement of firings could cause some lawless outbursts, administrators at the University of Texas at Brownsville were warned by Police Chief John Cardoza that terminations “have the potential to generate unpleasantness and the possibility of negative reactions,” according to information released by the school to the Brownsville Herald.

“In anticipation of any incidents…from employees affected by the (reduction in force), the UTB Police Department has taken proactive measures to upgrade the level of security on campus,” Cardoza told the administrators in the newly released memo. “While these measures may not be as obvious to the community, they are nonetheless essential in assuring the overall safety of our campus citizens. Other measures represent internal steps taken by the university police to increase preparedness.”

The school announced the terminations of 100 faculty members, including some with tenure, in April.

The university fought the release of the memo to the newspaper, claiming it was exempt under 552.108 of the Texas Government Code, which addresses law enforcement and “the detection, investigation or prosecution of crime…”

A July 11 ruling by the state Attorney General’s office forced the release of the information, noting that the school failed to cite a specific investigation or prosecution of a crime.